Patents Assigned to RCA Corporation
  • Patent number: 4736133
    Abstract: An electron gun for a high resolution color display tube comprises three inline cathode assemblies, a control grid with three inline apertures, a screen grid with three inline apertures, a screen grid slot plate with three inline substantially rectangular slots each associated with a different one of the apertures in the screen grid, and a main electron lens. The screen grid slot plate is attached to the screen grid on the side thereof facing the main electron lens. Each of the cathode assemblies produces an electron beam having a given beam current. Each of the slots in the screen grid slot plate has an inline dimension and a transverse dimension which are selected for the given beam current to independently control the horizontal and vertical sizes of the spot produced by each of the electron beams at a distance from the electron gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Barbin, Hsing-Yao Chen, Loren L. Maninger
  • Patent number: 4736239
    Abstract: Computer main memory is used for storing relatively densely sampled wideband video information concerning a television display and for storing relatively sparsely sampled narrowband video information concerning the same television display. The relatively densely sampled wideband video information is read out in substantially real time from computer main memory during line trace intervals in the television display. The relatively sparsely sampled narrowband video information is read out of computer main memory in advanced and compressed time during selected line retrace intervals in the television display. The wideband video information may be luminance information; and the narrowband video information chrominance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Sprague, Nicola J. Fedele, Lawrence D. Ryan, Robert A. Dischert
  • Patent number: 4736237
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating a burst-locked, color subcarrier representative signal .phi..sub.sc from a skew-corrected clock signal MCS (which is reset once every horizontal line) and a skew error signal SES (indicative of the once-a-line phase adjustment of the skew-corrected clock signal). In accordance with another feature of the invention, a chroma demodulation apparatus is provided for generating a pair of color difference signals R-Y and B-Y in response to the internally-generated .phi..sub.sc signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Russell T. Fling, Eric D. Romesburg
  • Patent number: 4734771
    Abstract: A supply voltage is developed in accordance with an on/off control signal of a remote receiver during a start-up interval and during a power-up mode of operation of a television power supply. During a standby mode of operation, the supply voltage is switched off. The supply voltage produces a supply current in an oscillator that produces a signal at a horizontal rate related frequency. The supply voltage also produces a base drive current in a switching transistor of a horizontal driver only during the start-up interval. During a power-up mode, a run supply voltage is coupled to the oscillator and to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery B. Lendaro, Robert L. Shanley, II, Jack Craft, Michael L. Low
  • Patent number: 4734620
    Abstract: First and second capacitors are charged prior to a degaussing interval. A first switch couples the first capacitor to a degaussing coil to initiate the degaussing interval. The first capacitor and the degaussing coil form a resonant circuit that resonates to generate a decaying degaussing current. During a predetermined portion of each cycle of the degaussing current, a second switch couples a precharged second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor to form a charge transfer arrangement that transfers charge from the second to the first capacitor for replenishing energy losses in the first capacitor. The charge transfer arrangement increases the duration of the time it takes to the amplitude of the degaussing current to decay and, hence, the length of the degaussing interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Juergen F. Hemme
  • Patent number: 4732804
    Abstract: A novel material is disclosed which is the reaction product of acrylic acid and a novoloid fiber. The material has excellent ablative and flame resistant properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Erich F. Kujas
  • Patent number: 4733217
    Abstract: A subranging analog-to-digital converter is disclosed. A coarse analog-to-digital converter has an analog input terminal coupled to a source of analog signal, a digital output terminal, and a range indication output terminal. First and second fine analog-to-digital converters each have an analog input terminal coupled to the analog signal source, a range selection input terminal coupled to the range indication output terminal, and a digital output terminal. A combining circuit has input terminals coupled to the digital output terminals of the coarse and first and second fine analog-to-digital converters. The coarse analog-to-digital converter operates on every clock cycle, and the fine analog-to-digital converters operate alternately on every other clock cycle to produce a sequence of digital samples representing the analog signal, one for each clock cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew G. F. Dingwall
  • Patent number: 4733018
    Abstract: Improved copper conductor inks useful in fabricating multilevel circuits are provided. The inks comprise copper powder, a novel zinc-aluminum-lead-borosilicate glass frit, bismuth oxide and a suitable organic vehicle. The inks are advantageous in that the films formed therefrom are oxidation resistant and have a reduced tendency for flux components to leach into adjacent dielectric films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok N. Prabhu, Kenneth W. Hang, Edward J. Conlon
  • Patent number: 4731563
    Abstract: A color display system includes a cathode-ray tube and self-converging yoke that produces an astigmatic magnetic deflection field within the tube. The tube has an electron gun for generating and directing three electron beams along paths toward a screen. The gun includes beam-forming region electrodes, main focusing lens electrodes, and two electrodes for forming a multipole lens between the beam-forming region and the main focusing lens in each of the electron beam paths. Each multipole lens is oriented to provide a correction to an associated electron beam to at least partially compensate for the effect of the astigmatic magnetic deflection field on that beam. A first multipole lens electrode is located between the beam-forming region electrodes and the main focusing lens electrodes. A second multipole electrode is connected to a main focusing lens electrode and located between the first multipole lens electrode and the main focusing lens, adjacent to the first multipole lens electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Bloom, Eric F. Hockings
  • Patent number: 4731864
    Abstract: A camera field-of-view is mapped with full depth-of-focus into electronic memory. Data concerning image intensities at selected points in image space are stored, along with data concerning the distances between the camera and these points in image space. Images with any focus and depth-of-focus can be generated by scanning the electronic memory during a reading thereof and convolving the data concerning image intensity with an adjustable-bandwidth low-pass spatial filter. The bandwidth of that filter is adjusted dependent on the data concerning distances between camera and points in image space. This image storage and image retrieval procedure conserves the size of electronic memory required to store and retrieve images with any focus and depth-of-focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew A. Modla
  • Patent number: 4731851
    Abstract: A volume control or amplitude varying system for digital signals includes a cascade connection of a coarse multiplier/divider for changing the values of digital signals in 6 db steps and a fine multiplier/divider for changing the values of digital values logarithmically in substantially equal steps of less than 6 db per step. The coarse multiplier/divider selectively multiplies the digital signal by powers of 2. The fine multiplier/divider multiplies the digital signal by predetermined values, an ascending/descending sequence of which form a substantially logarithmic sequence. Both serial-bit and parallel-bit embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Todd J. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4731655
    Abstract: A video display apparatus includes a protection circuit for preventing damage due to the application of excessively high line voltage. The video display apparatus includes a start-up circuit that provides power to initiate operation of a switching voltage regulator. In response to an improperly high line voltage, the start-up circuit is disabled and the video display apparatus does not become operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Lee, Shin T. Tzuo
  • Patent number: 4731648
    Abstract: A system for generating an interstitial signal for a double scanning non-interlaced (progressive scan) television display is disclosed. When no motion is detected in the neighborhood of the interstitial pixel, a pixel generated from pixels in the adjacent fields to that of said interstitial pixel is supplied at the interstitial pixel for further processing. When motion in a relatively downward direction is detected, then a pixel generated from pixels in lower adjacent lines to, and in the same field as, that of the interstitial pixel is supplied as the interstitial pixel. When motion in a relatively upward direction is detected, then a pixel generated from pixels in upper adjacent lines to, and in the same field as, that of the interstitial pixel is supplied as the interstitial pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Francis S. Bernard, Chandrakant B. Patel
  • Patent number: 4731656
    Abstract: A field transfer imager is erased after every field transfer, prior to a new field of pixels-descriptive charge packet being accumulated in the successive charge transfer stages of the charge transfer channels of the image register. The image register is operated to supply a field of "null" charge packets for each field of pixel-descriptive charge packets it supplies. The "null" charge packets and pixel-descriptive charge packets are temporarily stored in respective field storage registers, and converted a line at a time to serial format for sensing. The resulting "null" samples and pixel-descriptive samples are differentially combined to provide pixel-descriptive samples with suppressed dark current ramp components and, assuming field-rate shuttering of the imager is not used, with suppressed transfer smear components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Dischert, Allen L. Limberg
  • Patent number: 4731589
    Abstract: Level shifter circuitry, as for an operational amplifier, imposes no current load on the preceding amplifier stage associated with its level shifter function. A common-collector-amplifier first transistor has base and emitter connections to the input and output terminals of the level shifter. A second transistor of similar conductivity type and common-collector forward current gain has its base electrode connected through a first current mirror amplifier to the input terminal of the level shifter and has its emitter electrode connected through a second current mirror amplifier to the output terminal of the level shifter. The first and second current mirror amplifiers have similar current gains. The first current mirror amplifier may also be incorporated in apparatus for supplying constant current loading to the preceding amplifier stage, to this end having a source of constant current connected to its input connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Donald R. Preslar
  • Patent number: 4731564
    Abstract: A vertical deflection circuit for a video display apparatus includes a service switch that collapses vertical or field rate scan in order to facilitate adjustment of cathodes ray tube electron beam drive levels. The service switch operates by referencing the vertical sawtooth signal generator, the AC feedback, and the DC feedback to ground potential so that no input is applied to the vertical drive circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Pan, Ching L. Yu
  • Patent number: 4731844
    Abstract: Pilot signal cancelling circuitry for removing the pilot signal from a composite signal, includes a subtraction circuit. The composite signal and a synthesized pilot signal are coupled to the minuend and subtrahend input connections of the subtraction circuit respectively. The output of the subtraction circuit is coupled to first and second multipliers. A cosine signal of like frequency to the pilot signal is applied to the first multiplier which develops a phase error signal. The phase error signal is coupled to an oscillator which develops the cosine signal. A sinusoidal signal, also developed by the oscillator and in phase with the pilot signal is applied to a second multiplier. The second multiplier generates a signal proportional to the amplitude of the residual pilot signal in the output signal provided by the subtraction circuit. The amplitude signal is multiplied by a sinusoid in phase with the pilot signal in a third multiplier to generate the synthesized pilot signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Todd J. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4730177
    Abstract: A set of magnetically responsive vanes are secured for rotation about their mass center of gravity in a given angular spacing. The vanes have corresponding magnetic field producing coils which are in a different angular spacing such that one coil and vane is aligned and a second coil and vane are misaligned. An electrical switch is coupled to the vanes for operation in response to rotation of the vanes. A current applied to one coil aligns its vane thereto and closes the switch. The closed switch applies a load current to a second coil whose vane is misaligned. When an overcurrent occurs, the corresponding resulting field aligns its vane and opens the switch. An off current applied to a coil can align a corresponding vane to also open the switch. The switch and actuator are dynamically balanced so that moments produced by shock and vibration do not operate the actuator vanes or switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph F. McSparran
  • Patent number: 4730213
    Abstract: In measuring the dots of a color picture tube panel the panel is scanned and energy passing through the dots is detected. A large number of lines are scanned and the scan data are stored in a matrix having a row for each scan line and, columns for the dots and the spaces between the dots. Data for a preselected number of dots and spaces are stored. When scanning occurs between rows of dots, the preselected number of dots is not scanned and zeros are put into the matrix. Data processing is simplified by searching the last column of the matrix for zeros and rejecting all rows of data having a zero in that column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel T. Kelly, 3rd, Evo Andreatti, Jr., Frank S. Krufka
  • Patent number: 4730144
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a color picture tube having an inline electron gun for generating and directing three inline electron beams, comprising a center beam and two outer beams, along initially coplanar paths toward a screen of the tube. The beams pass through a deflection zone adapted to have two orthogonal magnetic deflection fields established therein. A first of the fields causes deflection of the beams in a first direction perpendicular to the inline direction of the beams, and a second of the fields causes deflection in a second direction parallel to the inline direction of the beams. The gun includes two shunts for shunting portions of both deflection fields around the outer beam paths. Each shunt comprises one magnetically permeable member having an aperture therein. Each shunt completely surrounds one of the electron beam paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Ingle, Roger C. Alig